Super Feeler: A BPD Podcast

Mercedes Killeen is a writer and mental health advocate who has struggled throughout her life with anxiety, depression, BPD, and alcohol addiction. In this episode, Mercedes shares her story of working towards sobriety, seeking mental health treatment, and healing through writing/creativity. You can learn more about Mercedes' work here . To purchase your own digital copy of tulips , click her...

Time to discuss Opposite Action! Long story short - Opposite Action means doing the opposite of what you want to do when what you want to do isn't effective. Easier said than done of course - but an incredibly helpful tool once you're practiced at it. Part of that practice is recognizing unskillful urges, and the learning the balance between feeling emotions and taking action to improve...

Dr. Amanda Uliaszek, associate professor at the University of Toronto, joins Super Feeler to discuss her passion for research for people living with borderline personality disorder, reducing stigma, and including people with lived experience in the research process.  We discuss the importance of a strengths-based approach to BPD, the challenges of conducting research, and the complexities around d...

We're diving into the complexities of emotion regulation as we start unit 3 of our DBT Skills Series. Together Dave, Laurie and Megan explore the role of emotion regulation skills in our life, what our core values are, and how we use the dialectical behaviour therapy skill Check the Facts in our lives.  Get your own copy of ' DBT for Life ' by Diana Partington to follow along with u...

In this episode, my husband Aaron and I discuss my first inpatient/residential treatment experience at a crisis response facility called CRESST. Together we explore the decision to go, what it was like to arrive with very limited information, and the importance of rest, monitored med management, and community. And naturally - some ridiculously hilarious and embarrassing stories from my time there....

My husband Aaron joins to share about my recent suicide crisis, how we worked together to try and overcome it, and how we tried to navigate a complicated medication change together.  Naturally - this episode comes with a trigger warning about discussing suicide and self-harm. It discusses some potential methods but not in detail. If you are struggling please reach out to the resources below and fo...

Validation is so important for people living with borderline personality disorder (BPD). In this episode we discuss the DBT Skill of validation including the complexities of giving and receiving validation, the challenges of navigating emotional conversations, and the techniques that can enhance effective communication. Understanding our own emotions and self-validation is an incredibly important...

Anita is back for part 2 to discuss their transformative experience at Heartwood Centre for Women. They explore the impact of community support, the complexities of gender identity, and the importance of self-discovery. Anita shares their insights on resilience, personal growth, and the unique perspective that comes from navigating the highs and lows of life as a Super Feeler. If you haven't...

Anita (they/them) discusses the complexities of being diagnosed with borderline personality disorder (BPD), struggling with substance use and being queer in a small communtity. They share about the impact of a community of family (chosen and blood) and how a caring and compassionate treatment team can make all of the difference.   Be sure to subscribe to the show so you don't miss part 2 of A...

DEAR MAN is Laurie's favorite DBT skill. If you've listened to any episodes of this series or her previous podcasts you'll have heard ALL about it. But it's such a helpful skill that there's always an excuse to hear other examples where it's used. The DEAR MAN skill, from Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), helps effectively ask for what you want or say no while maint...

Shannon (@natureanditsnoise) shares about her BPD diagnosis, how supportive family role models impacted how she reacted to her diagnosis and the impact of nature as a healing space for her. Shannon emphasizes the power of the Super Feeler community has on her journey and the unique strengths that come with being a Super Feeler.  You can listen to Shannon's podcast If These Trees Could Talk (@...

Dive into interpersonal effectiveness skills from dialectical behaviour therapy with Laurie, Shanthi and Dave! In this episode they discuss the importance of clarifying priorities and figuring out what matters most in relationships. They also share personal experiences and insights on how to navigate interpersonal interactions effectively. They  discuss the trap of focusing too much on self-respec...

Chelsea shares her journey as a superfeeler and how it has impacted her life. She discusses her struggles with postpartum depression, psychosis, OCD, and mastitis after giving birth to her son.  Chelsea talks about her decision to quit her job and enroll in school, only to face the challenges of online learning and being diagnosed with ADHD in adulthood.  She also opens up about her experiences wi...

In this episode, Laurie, Shanthi, and Dave the DBT Skill Effectively, using Chapter 5 of the book ' DBT for Life ' by Diana Partington.    The group shares personal experiences and insights on using this skill in various situations, such as dealing with difficult family dynamics and customer service interactions. They also discuss the importance of assuming good intentions and understand...

Megan (@borderlinebarrister) was first diagnosed with BPD while in law school. She discusses her experiences with mental health throughout her life, including struggles with anxiety and panic attacks. Megan discusses her journey of living with borderline personality disorder (BPD) and the impact it has had on her relationships, including with her parents and her partner.  Megan shares her decision...

This episode delves into the intricacies of Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), focusing on the mindfulness unit and the 'Describe' skill.  They explore how to differentiate between facts and opinions, the challenges of gaslighting, and the importance of trusting one's own reality. The conversation emphasizes the interconnectedness of DBT skills, particularly how 'Describe&apos...

Ryan Harland (IG: @ridingthestorm11977) is the author of Riding the Storm: A Memoir of Mental Illness and a father of 2. He shares about the impacts of his own childhood trauma, including parental sexual abuse and physical violence, in the development of his emotionally unstable personality disorder (aka borderline personality disorder or emotional intensity disorder).  This episode highlights a l...

We dive into the Stop and Observe skills from Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) and how it can be applied in various situations. Dave, Shanthi, Megan and Laurie discuss the challenges of remembering to use the skills in the heat of the moment and share tips on how to remind oneself. They also talk about using the stop skill in family gatherings, conflicts, and crisis situations. The discussion in...

Sonia (@_soniastewart_) is a great example of what it means to be an ally to people with specific highly stigmatized mental health challenges and what you can do to help break down stigma when you see it. Sonia is a Masters of Counselling student who reached out to Laurie after her program was providing stigmatizing, unbiased and harmful stereotypes in their course work about BPD.  She knew that i...

In this episode, Laurie and her guests Dave, Shanthi and Megan discuss the concept of wise mind in dialectical behavior therapy (DBT). They share personal experiences and insights on how wise mind combines emotional and rational thinking, and how it can help individuals make better decisions. The guests also talk about the importance of acknowledging wins and using pros and cons lists to practice...

Bora is a 31 year old engineer  and a mother of two who immigrated from Albania to the USA as a child. She shares about the impacts of a variety of cultural norms (like that of her home country, xenophobia in the US, her profession, academia, and childcare services) that have had a profound impact on her mental wellness.  Stay tuned for a second episode with Bora where we'll dive into parenti...

In this episode, Laurie and her guests Shanthi, Dave and Megan discuss the book DBT for Life and the concept of mindfulness in dialectical behavior therapy (DBT).   They highlight the accessibility of DBT skills for everyone, not just those with borderline personality disorder (BPD). The guests share their personal experiences with DBT and how it has helped them in their lives.  They also discuss...

Diana Partington (@sufferingoptional), author of DBT for Life , discusses her personal journey with dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) and the importance of accessible DBT skills. She highlights that DBT is not just for individuals with borderline personality disorder (BPD), but for anyone who experiences intense emotions and really just all people.  DBT for life is a wonderful and unique guide to...

Antonia shares her journey of being diagnosed with borderline personality disorder (BPD) and her experiences with addiction, mental health, and relationships. She discusses her rock bottom moments and the challenges she faced in seeking help. Antonia emphasizes the importance of finding the right counselor and medication combination that works for her. She also highlights the role of her Indigenou...

Welcome to the Super Feeler podcast! In this first episode Laurie and her dad, Dean, we're here to introduce the concept of Super Feelers and share a bit about Laurie's life story with a variety of mental health issues including borderline personality disorder, anxiety, panic disorder, and some possible undiagnosed conditions like OCD and a couple of eating disorders. She also talks abou...